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Will Hamm, "Where There's a Will, There's a Way!" (Hamm Homes)

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Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

pour some gas on the floor and light a match and toss it and run.

Feb 07, 2023 12:37 PM
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Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Number one, have them stop. Clean the carpets and drapes, paint, and set up an ionizer machine. Or find a buyer who is a smoker and doesn't mind—wishing you good luck.

Feb 07, 2023 10:47 AM
Rainmaker
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Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

It depends on a couple things...

1. Is the listing occupied? If so, nothing you do will help. 

2. How bad is the smoke odor? I showed one vacant listing (not mine) where it was so bad that the buyer (not mine) had to take it down to the studs. The vents were filthy so they ended up replacing the HVAC as well. Lots of work and $$$.

3. I showed a vacant condo which reeked of cigarette odor, not as bad as the house but would have needed professional remediation so the buyers did not pursue it.

The listing agent put ionizers throughout the condo and they did nothing. You might want to check with a professional remediation company about smoke damage if the ionizers, etc. do not help.

 

Feb 07, 2023 12:36 PM
Rainmaker
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Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

I've had to do this several times, and I have to agree with Ruth Grainger-Starr , Nina Hollander, Broker and Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417 hiring someone that has an Ozone Machine is the cheapest solution around $1,200+ per room... 

Feb 07, 2023 11:44 AM
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Before doing anything, get a commitment that the sellers will stop smoking in the house immediately. Hire a company to do a through cleaning of walls, floors, furniture and then get an ionizer machine to rid the cigarette stench.

Of course, selling to people that smoke is an option, Will!

Feb 07, 2023 11:28 AM
Rainer
92,713
Ruth Grainger-Starr
Gold District Realty - Cripple Creek, CO
providing AWESOME real estate adventures

I like the ionizer machines, I have also told sellers that the smell of smoke being covered up by fake scents can be a turn off to buyers. Deep Carpet cleaning and all upholstery as well seems to help. 

Feb 07, 2023 10:52 AM
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

You can rip out the kitchen cabinets, apply three coats of paint to the walls and ceilings, put down new tile or hardwood floor... but that smell is almost impossible to get out.

 

Just clean it as best you can (see the suggestions on this page from other posters), and price it accordingly.

Feb 07, 2023 01:14 PM
Rainmaker
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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

New paint and if any materials like carpet and drapes; replace. 
Years of experience with this has taught me nothing else truly works/lasts.

Feb 07, 2023 03:36 PM
Rainmaker
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Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I have purchased ionizers in the past an they seem to do the trick!  I had a client with 7 cats and I ran the ionizer for an entire weekend ... you never would have known he had any animals.  It was miraculous!

Feb 07, 2023 12:26 PM
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

There are some good suggestions here, Will. That's a tough one - good luck.

Feb 07, 2023 11:40 AM
Rainmaker
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

You might need a professional ionization. Remove all curtains, possibly repaint walls, change carpeting, professional clean upholstery... smoke gets into all those surfaces. Sellers need to stop smoking in the house if still living there while property is listed. 

Feb 07, 2023 11:08 AM
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Ozone machines are recommended on many short-term rental forums, but they have their own issues as Ozone is toxic.

If the home is occupied, I suggest getting a top of the line air filter and some room air purifiers and running the whole house fan 24x7.  First you'll want to clean all the air ducts, wash and paint the registers with Bin Zinzer.  Furniture and carpeting is going to hold the smell.  Super deep cleanings, and probably several of them, may help.

 

Beyond that, you basically need to renno the house.  Remove any carpeting and most (if not all) of the flooring and replace it.  Put several coats of Bin Zinzer on every wall in the house, then repaint.  Maybe even put it on the slab before redoing the floor.

Feb 07, 2023 05:03 PM
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Price accordingly.  Good luck.  

Feb 07, 2023 02:35 PM
Rainmaker
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Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I would disclose " Sellers are smokers" so any potential buyers or agents that might be allergic have fair warning.

Feb 07, 2023 02:20 PM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

I quit over 20 years ago, but never smoked inside a house or car.   There's no getting it out without removing all the furnishings, changing flooring and painting.

Feb 07, 2023 12:42 PM
Rainmaker
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Lorrie Semler, REALTOR® in the Dallas area. Call/text 972-416-3417
HomeSmart Stars - Addison, TX
Real Service. Real Results. Real Estate

I've heard that ozone machines can be very effective, but you have to remove all humans and pets from the house while it runs.

Feb 07, 2023 11:15 AM
Rainmaker
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Sean Gilliam
LoKation Real Estate - Longmont, CO
Real Estate on the Front Range

Install a humidor and market it to cigar smokers.

Feb 07, 2023 03:47 PM
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Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

TSP scrub for the walls. On the floors, a bleach wash.

Feb 07, 2023 03:35 PM
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Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Power wash and a good painting with double primer coat, keep windows open in all rooms all the time. I had one last year....my investor bought it as a probate: all walls and ceilings were brown from decade or few? smoking, had to invest close to 100k in remodeling. 

Feb 08, 2023 12:07 AM
Rainmaker
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

1) PAINT

2) I am a firm believer in Ozone machines Will Hamm , in fact I have two of them, one at home and one at the office.

Feb 07, 2023 05:20 PM
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

They can purchase an ionizer on Amazon.  Several clients have used them and it worked well. I do suggest getting it going sooner rather than later as it takes while depending on how bad the smoke is.  They may have to replace any draperies as well as carpet if they have any.  And sometimes they need to use a heavy duty floor cleaner before new flooring is put down. And paint paint paint.    Get them to stop smoking in the house or around the house NOW!

Feb 07, 2023 02:18 PM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

Share the info somewhere appropriate so that you can save yourself grief on hearing that it smells horrible... OR don't and let the sellers see such feedback and not blame you for their home not connecting with a buyer...  Good luck with that one!! 

Feb 08, 2023 04:46 AM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 and Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA have this one covered. That said, Tammy Lankford, has another solution.

Feb 08, 2023 04:29 AM
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Have the carpets cleaned, re-paint and CALL COIT! They will clean out all of the vents/ductwork and they will get rid of that horrible smell!

Feb 07, 2023 06:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I like Tammy Lankford,'s suggestion.

Feb 08, 2023 05:43 AM
Rainmaker
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Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Burn the house down! LOL
A house with ONE smoker is a lot but TWO 
UGHHHHH! Suicide for a house sale and we've had this Q before . . .
I've tried ozonator, it comes back
The only thing you can do is clear all the drapes and furniture out
TSP all walls and floors
Pull up and replace carpet, tack strips and pad. 
Kilz on all walls and repaint
Duct clean all ducts
and most of all . . .
price accordingly! 
Make sure agents know it's a smoker's house so if their buyer just can't, there's no surprises . . . 

Feb 08, 2023 05:16 AM
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Ugh, that and the pet smells are the worst and definitely turn buyers away, even ones that smoke themselves or have pets, haha.

Feb 08, 2023 04:19 AM
Rainmaker
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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. List, show, sell to someone that smokes and they will feel right at home Will Hamm . Stage the ash trays just so. Just cause owners smoke, does it smell so thick you could cut it with a knife?

Feb 08, 2023 03:17 AM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Ozone machine, Alpine Air

Feb 07, 2023 09:34 PM
Rainmaker
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Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

When I moved away from home, my uncle, who was a heavy smoker, gave me some used household items and mementos in a cardboard box.

Everything smelled like smoke. I kept the box in a back room storage closet. It took about two years for the smoke odor to finally dissipate.

Feb 07, 2023 03:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

You should tell them how it devalues their home. No one really smokes anymore & many buyers just won't bother with it.

I can't believe with your years in the biz you don't have any solutions.

Ozone machine 24/7

Feb 08, 2023 05:36 AM
Rainmaker
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Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Tough order Will Hamm I had 2 Ozone generators that worked well until they broke after a few years use

Feb 08, 2023 09:48 AM
Rainmaker
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Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

That's a tough one Will.  I wish you good luck.

Feb 08, 2023 08:43 AM
Rainmaker
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Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

agree to all before me.  how bad is it.  cleaning and painting the walls etc, etc.  trading one smell for another 

Feb 08, 2023 06:20 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Cigarette, Cigar, Pipe and Marijuana smoke in a house infiltrates the heat and air conditioning vents, carpet, window treatments and even the paint on the walls.  All of these items need to be treated to get rid of this awful odor.  There is no easy or quick fix other than selling the house in it's current condition and adjusting the list price to get it sold.

Feb 07, 2023 06:32 PM
Rainmaker
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Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

See if Pure environmental has an office in your area.

Feb 08, 2023 03:50 PM
Rainmaker
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Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Advertise the property with --- Buyers that SMOKE needed!   I remember a condo I sold years ago, same thing - smelled BAD.   A smoker bought it, and pretty sure, didn't even notice the smell.

Feb 08, 2023 08:45 AM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Tammy beat me to it.  Gas and torch. 

Feb 09, 2023 08:53 AM
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John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

If you have them get a cat or two and do things that cats don't like (ie breathe the wrong way, leave them alone for more than 3 minutes when they don't want to be left alone, or give them attention when they don't want your attention), they'll pee everywhere.  The cat urine scent will be strong enough that people will notice the cigarette smell less, perhaps not at all.

Follow me for more expert real estate advice!

Feb 08, 2023 02:20 PM